Improvement in orgam-cases



UNITED STATES ATENT FFICE LEVI K. FULLER, OF BRATTLEBOROUGII, VERMONT,ASSIGNOR TC) J. ESTEY & CUMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN ORGAN-CASES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 150,0] 7, dated April2l, lSfl; application liled January 31, 1874.

@Asn l.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it lrnown that I, LEVI K. FULLER, of Brattleborough, in the county oflVindham and State of Vermont, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Musical-Ia strument Gases, of which the following is aspecification:

My invention consists in an improvedlcase, designed for reed-organs andsimilar instruments, constructed of hinged sections, so arranged as tobe capable of being folded into a compact and portable form, and whichmaybe readily unfolded and arranged in an operative position whendesired, thereby especially adapting the instrument to be used byexcursion-parties, traveling troupes, missionaries, tvc., for whichpurposes the bulk and want ot' portability of such instruments havehereto fore unfitted them.

Figure l of the accompanying drawings is a front elevation of myimproved folding organ-case, shown unfolded and in position for use.Fie'. 2 is a side elevation ofthe same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view ofthe case when folded for transportation. Fig. 4l is a transverse viewot' the same, the lower box or portion of the case being in section andthe other parts in elevation.

rlhe ease is constructed, as shown in the drawings, of three divisions,the lower, A, consisting of the bottom, back, and two ends of an oblongbox; the upper section, I3, being of similar form, but suilieientlysmaller to close within the lower, and the intermediate one, C,consisting of the middle back portion of the case and the two endportions D D, the latter being hinged, preferably, to the upper sectionin such a manner as to fold against its under side, and the threeseveral divisions hinged to one another, so that they will fold withinthe base in the form ol a box, of which the middle division forms thetop and the upper one the front, as shown in Fig. rlhe pedals a o arearranged within the lower division and hinged to the bottom thereof, asseen in. Figs. l and 4, and are connected, by straps b b, with thebellows of the instrument arranged in the bottom ot' the upper divisionTo the top of the back of the lower part A is hinged the part C, whichforms the back of the case when the same is opened, as shown in Fic. l,but when the ease is folded together forms the top, as shown in Figs. 3and 4L; and to its upper edge is connected, by the hinges d d, the upperdivision D, in which are arranged a-ll the operative parts of theinstrument, except the pedals. These parts, viz., key-board, reeds,valves, bellows, &c., may be of the ordinary construction, and need nodescription. At each end of the upper chest, at o o, are hinged the endsD D, which, when the case is unfolded, rest upon the ends of the lowerbox A, and, with the part C, serve to support the top section in anupright and secure position, as seen in Figs. l and 2. lThey areprovided with projecting pins ff, or equivalent device, Figs. l and 2,which enter corresponding recesses in the ends of the part A, to retainthem in position, and suitable catches may be provided to hold them moresecurely in position, if desired. In folding the ease the pedals areirst disengaged from the straps I) b and laid down on the bottom of thebox A, as seen in Fig. 4l. The upper part of the ease is then raisedslightly and moved backward upon the hinges o c until the pins f j" ofthe parts D l) are disengaged. rlhese parts are then folded in under thebellows, in the position represented by the dotted lines in, Fig. l. Theupper section D is then folded upon the hinges d d forward against thepart C, as represented by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, and the whole isthen turned upon the hinges o o into the lower section A, as shown inFie. 4, and secured by the lock g, Fig. 3. The instrument is now foldedinto the compact form of an oblong` rectangular box ot' convenient sizefor portability, which may be readily transported from place to place,rendering it peculiarly adapted for picnic, yachting, or other excursionparties, traveling musicians, missionaries, &c., t'or which purposes thecommon organ is not adapted, owing to its bulk and rigidity. In thefolding of the case the operative parts ot the instrument, namely, keys,reeds, bellows, Ste., are in no way interfered with or displaced, asthey are secured permanently within the upper chest 13, which is alwaysinoved bodily in folding the ease, without displacing these parts orexposing them to injury, and when the ease is unfolded, as shown inFigs. l and 2, which is the work of but a few moments, the instrument isat once ready for use, and may be performed upon with as much ease andconvenience as the common rigidly-ineased instruments.

I do not wish to confine myself to the preoise construction andarrangement of the several portions of the ease herein shown by which Iproduce a folding ease, as modifica tions may be devised by which thesame result may be obtained; nor do I wish to limit its application towind or reed instruments, as it niay be applied to stringed instrumentsalso, itl found desirable 5 but YVhat I claim as my invention, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A nrusieal-instruinent case, the base, sides, back, and top of whiehare hinged together, so as to render the same capable ot' being foldedinto a compact form for transportation, and by unfolding be placed inoperative position, all being constructed, eo1nbined,.and arranged asherein shown and described.

2. In combination with the base A and upper section 13, thev hingedleaves or sections D D C, as shown and described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed inv naine in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

LEVI K. FULLER. Witnesses ARTHUR C. FRirsnR, CHARLES )L HIGGINS.

